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| Edo State REC, Mr. Mike Igini |
Resident Electoral Commissioners have threatened to expose governors and top government officials that offer them gifts, saying their conscience is not for sale.
They said their major duty was to ensure the credibility of the forthcoming general elections in the interest of peaceful co-existence of the country.
The RECs, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH in separate interviews during the week, said the governors and politicians’ gifts would be considered as bribing them against their conscience.
They, however, threatened to expose whoever offers them any ‘Greek gift’ no matter how highly placed the person may be.
The Kwara State REC, Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, said he was not ready to receive any gift from any politician, including the state governor.
He said the intention of such gifts – financial and non-monetary – were meant to compromise and influence the election results.
Onucheyo said INEC had made a lot of provisions and comforts for the RECs such that none of them should be tempted to receive any gift.
According to him, there are many gadgets that will expose any INEC official who collects bribe.
“We are living in an age where even a biro is a camera,” Onucheyo said.
The Ekiti State REC, Mr. Sam Olumekun, told politicians that they could not bribe their way to victory in the forthcoming elections.
Olumekun, said, “It is unimaginable for a governor or any politician to give monetary or non-monetary gifts to a REC or his spouse, especially when elections are around the corner.
“We should think about the people, no governor would offer me such gift and I won’t accept if offered.
“The commission has advised officials to stay away from politicians. INEC is determined to conduct a transparent and credible election; we will not be distracted. Our conscience will not be for sale.”
Apart from the fact that the Oyo State REC, Rufus Akeju, said he would disregard gifts offered by politicians, he advised his colleagues to mind their relationship with governors.
“If we are seeking free and fair elections, we should be mindful of our position and relationship with politicians. The policy is that you don’t meet anyone for anything,” Akeju said.
On the classification of favours to RECs from governors during election period, he said such favour would be deemed a bribe depending on what was offered and what the demand was.
Akeju said, “A smart person will not ask or demand for anything at this crucial time. The election is around the corner and if anybody offers the corner anything as a politician or governor, then there is something behind it.”
In one of the South-South states controlled by PDP, a former REC (identity withheld) had rejected a posh car and lavish accommodation presented to him on assumption of office in 2010.
It was gathered that the then Chief of Staff to the governor, who is currently aspiring into the National Assembly, had approached the REC and made the presentation which included cash gift running into millions of naira, but the concerned REC turned down the offer.
In a recent interview granted one of our correspondents shortly before he was redeployed to Edo State, the immediate past REC of Cross River, Mr. Mike Igini, said it was wrong for an electoral umpire in the state to demand favour from politicians.
Asked why RECs seemed loyal to governors in the state where they work, Igini said, “Loyal in what terms? RECs have their primary loyalty to the Nigerian citizen guided by the legislative mandates as spelt out in the Constitution, Electoral Act, and other germane laws and guidelines.
He said, “Governors are respected public servants, while they hold that office, every citizen must accord them the dignity related to that office, and the dignity accorded every human being, but loyalty must be qualified, it is an adjective that is dynamic to the context in which it is used. If you mean civil loyalty relating to compliance with state laws of which a state governor is the chief custodian, that is appropriate, but if you mean political loyalty, that is an aberration and complete abomination.”
When also asked if RECs rely on governors for provision of logistics, Igini said, “When you seek assistance of the kind you are talking about, you lose your moral authority to lead and enforce compliance and that is why people like me would not indulge in such reprehensible conduct.
“There is no logistics that a REC or state INEC office requires that demands or justifies political loyalty from any office other than the INEC headquarters and the Nigerian constitution, none that I am aware of.
“I have been here for over four years and I have not taken even a glass of water from politicians and they all would confirm that to whoever cares to find out. I have never compromised or surrender the pristine values of a true umpire but rather I have been true to them to the glory of God.”
The Ondo State REC, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, who also talked tough on the matter, said he would not hesitate to expose any politician who attempts to compromise him.
He said, “Any form of gifts or favour at this time when election is at hand is unacceptable. A politician or a governor who has not talked to you before and now calls you to give you a favour or gifts, you should know there is something fishy about that and we have to be careful.
“If any politician offers me a gift I will expose him, at least to my organisation because such gifts or favours could also be used as blackmail. So, it is better to make it known in the interest of the integrity of INEC.”
Asked what would happen if such gifts were directed to his spouse, he said it was impossible for politicians to reach his spouse.
Agbaje said, “My spouse is not here with me and I don’t see anyone trying to reach her with gifts. That is even not possible, I will not allow that.”
The Kano State REC, Alhaji Mukaila Abdullahi, said he would be guided by the law of the land which forbids collecting and giving of gifts in a period like this.
He said, ‘’I think it is clear that the law of the land governing the public office do not allow acceptance of any form of gift and as much as possible, I am glad to say that INEC is aware of the need to be independent.”
According to him, acceptance of a gift is a bribe.
Abdullahi said, ‘’I have repeatedly said that as much as possible, we relate with everybody, all the politicians, as well as with all the political parties, we accord them equal opportunities and access to information and if there is any reason whatsoever for somebody to tip you with a gift, it must be rejected in all ramifications.’’
The Niger State REC, Nasir Olarewaju Ayilara, told Saturday PUNCH in Minna that: “RECs should not base their work on whatever anybody is bringing to them. We must carry out our duties with no fear of contradiction or molestation of any kind as far as elections are concerned.
“It is wrong to collect gifts from politicians; it is not normal but what is very clear is that there is no way a REC can perform his job without having to deal with the state government. So, the office cannot be an island, but one should be mindful of the relationship between the government and the INEC.”
On the possibility of offering gifts to the spouses of RECs, Ayilara said, “Politicians are ready to do anything to get what they want, but it depends on the training and culture of the family. If the house is properly cultured they will not get you through your wife.”
In Ogun State, REC Timothy Ibitoye said no politician had offered him any gift since he was posted to the state late last year.
He said the only politician who had come to his office was the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who came to complain about the slow pace of delivery of Permanent Voter Cards in the state.
Ibitoye explained that he did not require any gift from any politician because he is a contented person.
The Delta State REC, Mr. Anidi Ikowak, said INEC officials who compromised their positions during the electoral process would be dismissed.
Ikowak told Saturday PUNCH that INEC had taken into consideration the fact that as human beings, some electoral officers could compromise their positions with candidates and other stakeholders during the electoral process and had devised means of dealing with such situations.
Ikowak, who said he was not aware of anyone who had tried to compromise him or his workers, said, “There are laws in the country that INEC would not have to manufacture new laws to take care of persons that compromise and collect gifts or other items.
“Everybody has been warned so that you don’t compromise your position or work. Our staff and those we recruit as adhoc staff have been told to be neutral as referees in the course of the elections.
“And INEC itself knowing that we are dealing with human beings has been trying to bring in innovations that would keep staff from doing certain things.”
He said that staff of the commission had the right to report people that attempt to bribe them using hard evidence to the security agencies.
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